e of affording the female suffragists an opportunity
to plead their cause before a full meeting. The scene before
the convention was called to order was interesting and
amusing. As the minutes rolled on the crowd of ladies
commenced to pour in, and by 8 o'clock the hall contained
some fifty representatives of the gentler sex of the
Crescent City. Every age of womanhood and every class of
beauty found a representative upon the floor. About half a
dozen "society girls" occupied a retired corner of the room,
while a number of the notables, including Mrs. Myra Clark
Gaines, took possession of the middle of the hall.

Promptly at 8 o'clock President Wiltz climbed to his seat
and called the convention to order in a tone slightly husky
from nervous excitement. Secretary Harris, having summoned
up his spare courage, called the roll in a determined voice.
Of the 134 members 106 responded to their names. After the
usual preliminaries Mr. Poche announced that a committee of
ladies were in attendance, prepared to address the
convention upon the question of woman suffrage. He then
introduced Mrs. Dr. Keating. The fair speaker had scarcely
begun before it was seen that she possessed a clear, slow
enunciation and perfect confidence in her ability to enforce
the doctrines of the cause she was to advocate. She read
from manuscript and showed no little knowledge of the rules
of oratory.

Mrs. Saxon was greeted with a burst of applause, which was
gracefully acknowledged by the recipient; her address was
earnest and made a deep impression.

Mr. Robertson of St. Landry then offered the following
resolution, which lies over under the rules:

_Resolved_, That the committee on elective franchises be
directed to embody in the article upon suffrage reported in
this convention, a provision giving the right of suffrage to
women upon the same terms as to men.

After some talk the resolution was laid aside to allow
another speech to be made. Mrs. E. T. Merrick was introduced
by Mr. Poche, as the wife of ex-Chief-Justice Merrick, and a
shower of applause followed the appearance of t